A haunting classic of British animation that dramatises the worst fears of the Cold War era’s nuclear anxiety, told through the misfortunes of an ill-prepared elderly couple.
Jimmy T Murakami’s adaptation of Raymond Briggs’s harrowing graphic novel stands as a classic of British animation.
Bringing to life an empathetic portrayal of the innocence and ignorance of everyday people in the face of the devastation of nuclear war; Briggs was inspired by his own parents and their generation's implicit trust of government and public information, such as the Protect and Survive campaign. Gut-wrenchingly emotional, it explores how the 'Blitz spirit' doesn't count for much against weapons of mass destruction.
It uses a hybrid style spanning hand-drawn illustration, newsreel footage, grotesque satirical cartoons, and tangible stop-motion settings. When the Wind Blows was a pointed broadside aimed squarely at the superpowers behind the Cold War.
This screening will be followed by a ScreenTalk with Nicolette Jones, literary critic and author of The Illustrators: Raymond Briggs, and Jez Stewart, BFI National Archive curator and author of The Story of British Animation, in conversation with Animation at War curator Michael Leader.
This screening and ScreenTalk have Hard of Hearing Captions.
For 20% off tickets book for all three events in this series.
Release year: 1986
Country: United Kingdom
Director: Jimmy T. Murakami
Runtime: 1hr 20min
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£1.50 booking fee per online/phone transaction.
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Animation at War
Cinema 1
Location
Barbican Cinema 1 is located within the main Barbican building on Level -2. Head to Level G and walk towards the Lakeside Terrace where you’ll find stairs and lifts to take you down to the venue floor.
Address
Barbican Centre
Silk Street, London
EC2Y 8DS
Public transport
The Barbican is widely accessible by bus, tube, train and by foot or bicycle. Plan your journey and find more route information in ‘Your Visit’ or book your car parking space in advance.
We’ve plenty of places for you to relax and replenish, from coffee and cake to wood-fired pizzas and full pre-theatre menus
Access
Level access from the Pit floor foyer only to the two boxes (see Mobility below). All other seats lead off stepped aisles.
Mobility
Two boxes at the rear of the auditorium each have space for one wheelchair user and a companion. Please book early and ask for these seats.
Assistance dogs
Assistance dogs may be taken into the cinema – please tell us when booking, to ensure your seat has enough space. If you prefer, you may leave your dog with a member of the foyer staff during the performance.
Hearing facility
There is an induction loop in the auditorium. You can use this by adjusting your hearing aid to the ‘T’ setting.
For more access information, please visit our Accessibility section.
